June 05, 2015

Ad of the Day: French Toast Crunch

To promote the return of General Mills’ beloved French Toast Crunch cereal — which returned this January after being discontinued in 2006 — a campaign entitled "The Tiny & The Tasty" has just been launched. A series of ads parodies daytime soap operas, which were at their peak during French Toast Crunch’s heyday in the mid to late 90s (the brand launched in 1995) with a "mini mini-soap opera." The 30-second spots cast a family of dolls and take on such soap opera cliches as "Amnesia," "Murder," "Inheritance" and "Pregnancy." In "Amnesia," a couple’s son suffers from amnesia and forgets, among other things, to wear pants. [Source: AdWeek]

VOCABULARYThe "Amnesia" ad illustrates one of the classic vocabulary differences between British and American English. As a British English speaker, when I first watched the ad, I understood that the son was not wearing his underpants (which would explain the censored area!) Then I realized that, as Americans, they were talking about what we in Britain call 'trousers' (which is not quite so bad!)

COMMENTI thought the ads were quite funny and could easily be used in the classroom. The "Amnesia" ad contains several useful vocabulary and grammar points (see below for a transcript). You can watch all five videos here.

TRANSCRIPTFATHER : So, Junior, you were diagnosed with amnesia.SON: Mmm. I do not remember that.MOTHER: Well, do you remember French Toast Crunch from the nineties? French toast tiny enough for us to eat.SON: No, but it looks delicious. You have milk?MOTHER: Yeah, it’s in the fridge. Uh, Junior, you forgot your pants.FATHER: Oh no.VOICEOVER: Brought to you by French Toast Crunch. Mapley, cinnamony, French toasty.

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Ad of the Day: French Toast Crunch

To promote the return of General Mills’ beloved French Toast Crunch cereal — which returned this January after being discontinued in 2006 — a campaign entitled "The Tiny & The Tasty" has just been launched. A series of ads parodies daytime soap operas, which were at their peak during French Toast Crunch’s heyday in the mid to late 90s (the brand launched in 1995) with a "mini mini-soap opera." The 30-second spots cast a family of dolls and take on such soap opera cliches as "Amnesia," "Murder," "Inheritance" and "Pregnancy." In "Amnesia," a couple’s son suffers from amnesia and forgets, among other things, to wear pants. [Source: AdWeek]

VOCABULARYThe "Amnesia" ad illustrates one of the classic vocabulary differences between British and American English. As a British English speaker, when I first watched the ad, I understood that the son was not wearing his underpants (which would explain the censored area!) Then I realized that, as Americans, they were talking about what we in Britain call 'trousers' (which is not quite so bad!)

COMMENTI thought the ads were quite funny and could easily be used in the classroom. The "Amnesia" ad contains several useful vocabulary and grammar points (see below for a transcript). You can watch all five videos here.

TRANSCRIPTFATHER : So, Junior, you were diagnosed with amnesia.SON: Mmm. I do not remember that.MOTHER: Well, do you remember French Toast Crunch from the nineties? French toast tiny enough for us to eat.SON: No, but it looks delicious. You have milk?MOTHER: Yeah, it’s in the fridge. Uh, Junior, you forgot your pants.FATHER: Oh no.VOICEOVER: Brought to you by French Toast Crunch. Mapley, cinnamony, French toasty.